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Travel Information

Trip Code :

MY-B-05

Departure date :

Daily

Duration :

5 days

Trip Code

: MY-B-05

Destination

: MYANMAR ( Yangon )

Price

: 715.00 US Dollar

Duration

: 5 Days

Trip Description

Once a centre for one of Myanmar's most powerful kingdoms, Mrauk U straddles the banks of Aungdat Chaung, a tributary of the Kaladan River. The Rakhaing King Minzawmun founded Mrauk U in 1433. A network of Chaungs allowed access by large boats, even ocean-going vessels. PALACE RUINS: walls and gateways of sandstone blocks and earth are all that's left of the Mrauk U royal palace, constructed in 1430. A museum within the old palace walls contains a good collection of religious sculptures and other artifacts unearthed around Mrauk U. SHITTAUNG: the most complex and well preserved of the surviving Mrauk U temples, Shittaung was constructed in 1535 by King Minbin, the most powerful of the Rakhaing kings. The name means 'Shrine of the 80,000 images', a reference to the number of holy images found inside. ANDAW PAYA: smaller eight-sided monument with a similar linear layout as Shittaung. The original construction of the shrine is ascribed to King Minhlaraza in 1521. Sixteen zedis are aligned in a square-cornered U shape around the southern, northern and western platforms. YADANAPON PAYA: this is the largest stupa in the area and stands just north of Andaw Paya. Damaged by WWII bombing, only the bottom 'bell' portion and base remain standing. According to local chronicles, the mammoth stupa was sponsored by Mrauk U's Queen Shin Htway in 1612. DUKKANTHEIN: said to have been constructed by order of King Minphalaung in 1571, Dukkanthein stands on a bluff 100 metres to the north-east of Shittaung. A loose translation of the name is 'ordination hall that spiritually reinforces the town'. PITAKA TAIK: built in 1591 under King Minphalaung as a repository for the Tripitaka (Buddhist canon), and one of the few Mrauk U-period libraries that have survived. LAUNGBANPYAUK PAYA: built in 1525 by order of King Minkhaungraza, it is locally known as the Plate Pagoda, because a wall in front of the structure is embedded with plate-like tiles in bright yellow, red, white and blue. SAKYAMANAUNG PAYA: this graceful zedi was erected in 1629 under King Thirithudhammaraza and at this point in the development of Mrauk U architecture, the stupa was modified into a more vertical and highly ornate form, an obvious absorption of Bamar and Shan styles, by way of Bagan and Ava.

Yangon - Sittwe - Mrauk U Transfer Flight from Yangon to Sittwe Transfer By boat from Sittwe to Mrauk U Journey by ferry for part of the way moving against the current on the Kaladan River, then turn east onto the Theinganadi River, going with the current, and then turn upriver again on the Henyakaw River.Transfer

Overnight :Mrauk UMeal :B

Day 2

Mrauk U Sightseeing Mrauk U Once a centre for one of Myanmar's most powerful kingdoms, Mrauk U straddles the banks of Aungdat Chaung, a tributary of the Kaladan River. The Rakhaing King Minzawmun founded Mrauk U in 1433. A network of Chaungs allowed access by large boats, even ocean-going vessels. PALACE RUINS: walls and gateways of sandstone blocks and earth are all that's left of the Mrauk U royal palace, constructed in 1430. A museum within the old palace walls contains a good collection of religious sculptures and other artifacts unearthed around Mrauk U. SHITTAUNG: the most complex and well preserved of the surviving Mrauk U temples, Shittaung was constructed in 1535 by King Minbin, the most powerful of the Rakhaing kings. The name means 'Shrine of the 80,000 images', a reference to the number of holy images found inside. ANDAW PAYA: smaller eight-sided monument with a similar linear layout as Shittaung. The original construction of the shrine is ascribed to King Minhlaraza in 1521. Sixteen zedis are aligned in a square-cornered U shape around the southern, northern and western platforms. YADANAPON PAYA: this is the largest stupa in the area and stands just north of Andaw Paya. Damaged by WWII bombing, only the bottom 'bell' portion and base remain standing. According to local chronicles, the mammoth stupa was sponsored by Mrauk U's Queen Shin Htway in 1612. DUKKANTHEIN: said to have been constructed by order of King Minphalaung in 1571, Dukkanthein stands on a bluff 100 metres to the north-east of Shittaung. A loose translation of the name is 'ordination hall that spiritually reinforces the town'. PITAKA TAIK: built in 1591 under King Minphalaung as a repository for the Tripitaka (Buddhist canon), and one of the few Mrauk U-period libraries that have survived. LAUNGBANPYAUK PAYA: built in 1525 by order of King Minkhaungraza, it is locally known as the Plate Pagoda, because a wall in front of the structure is embedded with plate-like tiles in bright yellow, red, white and blue. SAKYAMANAUNG PAYA: this graceful zedi was erected in 1629 under King Thirithudhammaraza and at this point in the development of Mrauk U architecture, the stupa was modified into a more vertical and highly ornate form, an obvious absorption of Bamar and Shan styles, by way of Bagan and Ava.

Overnight :Mrauk UMeal :B

Day 3

Mrauk U Excursion to Wethali and Mahamuni WETHALI: according to Rakhaing chronicle, Wethali was founded in 327 AD by King Mahataing Chandra. Archaeologists believe that this kingdom lasted until the 8th century. Of the oval-shaped city boundaries that remain, only parts of the moat and walls are still visible amid the rice paddies. MAHAMUNI: location of the paya which sits at the north-eastern corner of the old Dhanyawady city site. This was the original site for Mandalay's famous Mahamuni Buddha, a huge and very old bronze image, which Rakhaing kings believed provided supernatural protection for their successive kingdoms.

Overnight :Mrauk U Meal :B

Day 4

Mrauk U - Sittwe Transfer By ferry from Mrauk U to Sittwe Journey south by ferry, which are old double-decker Irrawaddy Flotilla vessels. On the way, the boat stops at the town of Ponnagyun (Braham Island).Transfer Sightseeing Sittwe Sittwe is a port city in Rakhaing State at the mouth of the Kaladan River where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. It has at least a 2000 year history of habitation and during the British international trade along the coast bloomed with two huge cargo steamers going back and forth between Calcutta and Sittwe each day. PAYAGYI: this temple features a large plain shed supported by pillars decorated with a glass mosaic. A large sitting image beneath the shelter was cast in 1900 in the Rakhaing style - minus the 'royal attire' common to many Rakhaing images. BUDDHIST MUSEUM: housed in a colonial-style building, this is the best place in Myanmar to view Rakhaing-style Buddha images. Maintained by resident monks, the collection here represents a rare instance of historical preservation of older Buddhas. RAKHINE STATE CULTURAL MUSEUM: the museum is largely a collection of Wethali and Mrauk U period artefacts and a number of more contemporary exhibits. WATERFRONT: as a seaside town, Sittwe has plenty of waterfront action. The road along the river is called 'The Strand'. 'The Point' is a land projection at the confluence of the Kaladan River and the Bay of Bengal.

Overnight :Sittwe Meal :B

Day 5

Sittwe Transfer Flight from Sittwe to Yangon

Meal :B

Meal :B = Breakfast / L = lunch / D = Dinner

Departure Date

Daily

Price

Valid :

01/01/2007 - 31/12/2007 , Rate per person based on Sharing Twin in US Dollar

Joint tour

Package

1 Pax

2 Pax

3 - 6 Pax

Var. A

1,175.00

756.00

715.00

<

Joint tour

join-in

Single Surcharge

N/A

49.00

Inclusion

All prices are per person in USD, based on twin-sharing in double rooms in the default hotel for the listed category.

Accommodation and meals as described (please note that some hotels provide only CBF) All transfers within the journey All entrance fees English, French or German speaking guides (other languages available upon request) E.V.T. letter for Myanmar